MINI Launches New Electric Vehicles in China, Canceling Iconic Models

On December 9, MINI officially revealed its latest electric vehicle (EV) lineup on domestic social media platforms. The brand's new models will begin with sales on December 10 and come with special limited-time offers.

New Entry-Level Electric Cooper

MINI canceled the original entry-level model "Big Player" as part of the rebranding efforts. Instead, a new lower-priced electric cooper, dubbed "Classic," now occupies this spot. According to official announcements, the Classic model enjoys significant price cuts over its predecessors. The 2024 MINI Cooper E, priced at 14,880 yuan (approximately $2,170 USD), marks an excellent entry-point in the lineup.

Key specifications for the new MINI Cooper include dimensions of 3,858mm x 1,756mm x 1,458mm with a wheelbase of 2,526mm. Equipped with the latest MINI OS 9 operating system, the car offers enhanced user convenience and usability.

Powering the MINI Cooper E is an electric motor providing 184 horsepower (135 kW), paired with a 40.7 kWh battery pack. This combination yields impressive driving ranges of up to 456 kilometers via the CLTC standard. The higher-end variant, known as the MINI COOPER SE, boasts a more potent 218-horsepower (160 kW) electric motor and reaches peak speeds in just 6.7 seconds while equipping itself with larger, 54.2 kWh battery packs yielding up to 452 kilometers of efficiency during urban driving.

New Compact SUV Electric ACEMAN

For those looking for an electrified alternative between the current MINI Five-door and the COUNTRYMAN model lines,MINI announced ELECTRIC ACEMAN — a compact car specifically placed within the brand’s lineup to capture growing market demands for electrification.The ELECTRIC ACEMAN takes place of "Big Player". With an attractive balance in price point with considerable performance at that level, it competes well against popular models on the same segment. Its specifications are closely akin to its predecessor but retains lower power specs for overall cost efficiency — which can sometimes affect real-world fuel efficiency but still is more than ample power considering its price.

The model has two drivable styles with a higher version having an electric motor pushing 218 horsepower (160 kW), while a battery pack providing energy amounting up to 445 kilometers in line with CLTC. The lower-tier version, or "S" for short, offers comparable performance with a slightly larger, but again relatively minor, 4,500Wh battery that maintains at least the same efficiency. A notable feature of ACEMAN EV is its impressive fast charging times — it can charge from a 10% state to near full state (80%) in just under 31 minutes.